This will cut about half a millimeter of screen thickness from the iPhone's current 9.3-millimeter thick display

It seems "the thinner, the better" is the latest trend for smartphones and tablets, and now, Apple is applying this rule to its next-generation iPhone by giving it a thinner screen.

According to sources close to the matter, Apple's screen for its next iPhone will use in-cell technology developed by Sharp Corp., LG Display Co., and Japan Display Inc. In-cell technology means that touch sensors are placed within the LCD, eliminating the extra touchscreen layer that usually accompanies the LCD. This will cut about half a millimeter of screen thickness from the iPhone's current 9.3-millimeter thick total frame.

There's a good and a bad side to this type of technology. The good news is that Apple can cuts costs by eliminating that extra layer, which would have needed to come from another supplier. Also, a thinner screen means more room elsewhere on the device, like for a larger battery.

The bad news, however, is that these types of screens are difficult for suppliers to make. They're also very time consuming, meaning mass-producing them by certain deadlines could potentially be an issue.

Other little news bits have been trickling out regarding new iPhone features, such as the larger 4-inch screen and the centered placement of the FaceTime camera.